Patriotic News Why are blast injuries so important right now? America's armed forces are sustaining attacks by rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, & land mines around the world. Our injured soldiers require care from providers experienced in brain injury. In combat, how often do blasts cause injury? Blast injuries have become common in civilian disasters & military conflicts. Suggestions are over 50% of injuries sustained in combat are from explosive ammunitions including bombs, grenades, land mines, missiles & mortar artillery shells. Stats from the October 23, 1983 terrorist bombing of US Marine barracks (Scott 1986) showed the large explosion (equivalent to approx. 12 tons of TNT) resulted in 234 deaths & at least 122 injured survivors. 167 Deaths demonstrated evidence of head injury (a 59% rate head injury & 70% fatality rate from head injury). Between July & November 2003 DVBIC at Walter Reed Army Medical Center screened 155 patients who had returned from Iraq & were deemed as risk for brain injury. Ninety-six of the 155 screened or 62% were identified as sustained brain injury. Of the 88 blast cases included in the total number screened, 54 or 61% were identified as having sustained brain injury. What symptoms may indicate a closed head injury? Difficulties from a closed-head blast injury include post concussion, complaints of decreased memory & concentration, headaches, slower thinking, irritability & depression. What is the DVBIC doing to care for those with blast injuries? The Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) works to identify soldiers who sustained a closed head injury during combat & military work to give the best care possible. At Walter Reed Army Med Ctr., DVBIC reviews all incoming casualty reports & screens patients who may have brain injury from blasts, motor vehicle crashes, falls & gunshot wounds to the head. Brain injury specialists evaluate those identified with a brain injury. Then, recommendations are made for treatment & duty status. (end DVBIC report) _________________________________ The state of Indiana now provides grants for family support expenses to Hoosier family members of the Indiana Nat’l Guard or armed force reserves called to active duty after 9-11-01. Also, now there is legal restricted protesting outside of funerals & memorial services honoring fallen soldiers. To contact DVBIC call: 1-800-870-9244 or email: info@dvbic.org (end of State Representatives Report 2006). ###